Inside the Court of Protection

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to summarize the work of the Court of Protection.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper outlines the history and range of applications within the jurisdiction of the Court, drawing from the Mental Capacity Act and the Code of Practice. Reference is made to annual reports of the work of the court which profile its workload. Finally there is a review of a line of case law dealing with the question of media attendance and reporting of cases before the court.

Findings

The Court in its current form was established under The Mental Capacity Act, 2005 and is a significant decision‐making body in the UK within adult safeguarding practice concerning adults whose decision‐making capacity is impaired. The implications of several specific cases are discussed.

Originality/value

This paper provides a unique insight into the work of the Court of Protection and the implications of recent decisions by the Court for adult safeguarding.

Citation

Brammer, A. (2012), "Inside the Court of Protection", The Journal of Adult Protection, Vol. 14 No. 6, pp. 297-301. https://doi.org/10.1108/14668201211286822